Thursday, July 18, 2013

Mission Statement of the Badass Teachers Association

BADASS
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

CLARIFICATION
OUR MISSION

JULY 18,
2013

Dear
Members - We would like to make it clear and concise what our mission is for
this association of teachers. We believe
that our actions will occur in three phases and continue to evolve as the
landscape of corporate deform evolves.

Phase 1–To call out the entities that are harming public education (Corporate

deformers and government officials/lawmakers). Time Frame: July/August

Phase 2
-To Educate the public about what is
really going on in education policy.

To pursue ways, prior to the start of the school year, to
educate and join in partnership with
parent and student groups to actively stop the privatization of our public
school system. To also educate those
teachers who are still in the dark about privatization efforts. Time Frame: Late July/August

Phase 3
- To continue to make public the hoax of
that our public school system is broken and that this is one of the many lies
being spread about public education. We will actively monitor and target public
figures/politicians to demand they “step
up” and increase support for
public education. Time Frame: Late
August/Year Round

We also want to make clear that we ARE NOT A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT OR ENDORSE ANY POLITICAL PARTY. The only thing
that we endorse is to return public education back to the public and teacher
voice to the education conversations being had at both the federal and state
level.

Here is what we are clearly fighting against:

1. Badass Teachers will fight against Common Core
National Standards - this stance is rooted in an extensive review of research
literature, policy documents, and advice of educational historians/experts
(Ravitch, Krashen, and Cody). This
stance is in NO WAY ROOTED TO SUPPORT ANY POLITICAL PARTY. BATs WILL NOT ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH ANY POLITICAL
PARTY FIGHTING AGAINST CCSS. WE BELIEVE
THIS IS AN "EDUCATOR’S" FIGHT AND WE WILL
FIGHT BASED ON ITS PROPENSITY TO HARM PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA. This group is opposed to the forced
imposition of Common Core Standards on teachers, schools and school districts.
We do not exclude teachers who voluntarily work with Common Core Standards, but
we vehemently oppose a one size fits all model of learning that is imposed
through bribery, intimidation and extreme political pressure, for the profit of
private companies, in a manner that brings with it increased testing and
smothers student and teacher creativity.

2.Badass Teachers will fight
against High Stakes Testing and the excessive testing of our children.

4.Badass Teachers will fight
against the corporate attempt to privatize public education, which has seen the
closing of schools in urban and poverty areas and the subsequent opening of
charter schools for profit or a voucher system that seeks to destroy
neighborhood schools.

5.Badass Teachers will fight
against any federal or state educational policy or mandate that has been
implemented without funding and extensive teacher input.

6.Badass Teachers will fight
against any attempt to assault, hinder, or deny our right to collective
bargaining.

We hope
that these 6 mission statements will allow you all to carry on conversations
and dialogue as great Badasses always do. We also hope they will provide you
with a clarification of our goals. An army of 23,000 Badass Teachers will not
agree on all these elements but we do agree on most. We want to thank you all for your continued
support, time, and consideration. Now
let's get to work!